Former patient’s performance for GOSH staff features on the One Show

4 Jul 2023, 8 p.m.

Tom Bright with his mum Karen, and surgeon Professor Spitz on a rooftop garden

Former patient Tom Bright returned to GOSH to be reunited with his surgeon Professor Lewis Spitz, and perform his song Remarkable Things for staff.

Tom, who performed at Glastonbury last month, was part of the BBC One Show’s film to celebrate the anniversary of the NHS. It featured a number of former NHS patients saying thank you for their life-saving treatments.

When he was just a few months old, Tom was brought to GOSH after being diagnosed with Oesophageal Atresia with Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula. This is a rare condition where a short section at the top of the oesophagus (gullet or foodpipe) has not formed properly so is not connected to the stomach, and part of the oesophagus is joined to the trachea (windpipe).

Tom underwent more than 20 operations in the space of 18 months, led by Professor Lewis Spitz.

Group of GOSH staff, including nurses and volunteers, gather on a rooftop garden to watch Tom perform an acoustic set

Tom performing to GOSH staff and volunteers

I was here in 1988 and 89 as an incredibly sick child, and my life was saved here, all down to the courage, knowledge and bravery of Professor Lewis Spitz and the amazing staff. I quite literally owe my life to this place.

Tom Bright

It was absolutely amazing to see Professor Lewis Spitz again, because in short, he is the man that saved my son’s life, and I’m eternally grateful to him. When Tom was a patient here as a baby I could never see the day he would grow up and see adulthood – and here we are, he is living proof. You have to keep the faith because some days are very dark days, but a lot of the days were really good days, so keep the faith.

Tom's mum Karen

One of the rewards of paediatric surgery is to see your patient again after many years, and see them being a success in life.

Professor Spitz

Scientists discover clues to help children with rare muscle disease

New ground-breaking research by experts at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London (UCL) has led to an exciting discovery that could help children with the rare muscle disease, juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).

GOSH-led trial of AI-scribe technology shows ‘transformative’ benefits for patients and clinicians across London

A major GOSH-led study has found that AI-scribing technology can significantly reduce clinician workload while improving patient care

GOSH marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Join us in the Lagoon on 3, 4 and 30 September between 11am and 2pm for a range of activities to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

90s time capsule sealed by Diana, Princess of Wales, revealed

A time capsule, laid by Diana, Princess of Wales, at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) 34 years ago has been opened to enable construction of the hospital’s new Children’s Cancer Centre